Hoosier Breast Friend LLC

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Michigan City, IN
Hoosier Breast Friend LLC

Hoosier Breast Friend LLC is a group of private practice IBCLCs specializing in holistic support.

02/27/2026

Most people have access to support for infant feeding immediately postpartum, but what’s the plan once you’re home and settling into actually growing this new tiny human?

No shade to our hospital IBCLC colleagues, birth doulas, midwives, nursing staff, and doctors. They all play important roles in your lactation journey (granted some are unknowingly sabotaging you but that’s a different post) and their early guidance can be crucial in getting started. But that’s what it’s designed to do - get you started. Time and resources are limited so the focus has to be on establishing breastfeeding, so their strongest skills are usually centered on caring for immediate postpartum and fresh newborns.

Realistically, that care has usually ended by the 48 hour mark. That’s before your baby needs to really increase their feeding volume, before you’re engorged, before edema sets in, and before little feeding issues become big ones. What worked before that transition can suddenly stop helping, ending in frustration and desperation for both you and your baby. Having a plan for support beyond the hospital can keep the spiral from starting or help pull you out.

02/26/2026

With so many brands and types on the market, how do you know which pump to get? The marketing from the manufacturers will have you believing that the only right choice is the one they’re telling you about. Instead of falling for the buzzwords like hospital grade and freedom, here are the things to think about before choosing.

What will your pumping needs be? Someone who expects to exclusively nurse and won’t return to work is going to have a very different experience with pumping than someone who is planning to exclusively pump or is expecting a medically complex baby.

What is your milk supply like? If you’re someone with a massive oversupply, you’re not going to need to be nearly as picky as someone dealing with chronic low supply.

Are replacement parts and additional fl**ge sizes accessible? If you can’t find parts that will work with your pump and fit your anatomy correctly, then your pump is pretty much useless.

Will you be able to replace it if needed? Check warranty information to see whether the company stands behind their product and will offer a replacement if it’s damaged or defective. If you use your insurance benefits (or pay out of pocket) for a pump and realize it won’t work for you, will you be able to purchase a different pump?

What’s your budget? Even when using health insurance coverage, there are often out of pocket “upgrade” costs. Know ahead of time what your budget is, and plan to shop around at various DMEs.

*Pro tip: although retail prices are usually pretty close across the board, insurance coverage isn’t. Enter your insurance info with multiple DMEs to see which company is able to offer you the best coverage for the pump you want.

Your IBCLC can also help with narrowing down good options for your needs!

02/24/2026

Breastfeeding is fairly predictable for the first 6 or so months. Then your baby learns fun new things like how to sit, crawl, stand, and walk. They don’t want to be cradled to nurse anymore. The more they can move, the more they want to!

They’re distracted and playful. They’re strong, opinionated, and MOBILE. They’ll stop by for sips here and snacks there, and then settle in for a full 20 minutes of nursing while trying to pick your nose. How on earth are you supposed to latch someone who wants to put their toes in your ear?

The key is letting go of the image in your head of the fresh new baby with predictable feeding patterns, all nestled up in a perfect cradle hold. Go with the new flow! You’re allowed to guide and correct. You can have boundaries - especially with toddlers - but it’s also very ok to let them stop mid-feeding to look out the window or run off to grab their new favorite toy and come back later. As long as weight gain, overall growth, and hydration are all in normal ranges, you can enjoy and embrace the new antics of your older nursing baby!

02/23/2026

Get to know your IBCLC 🥰
Did you see us for lactation care? Who was your IBCLC?

Let us know in the comments! ⤵️

02/22/2026

That white layer at the top of your stored milk is fat!

Just like other mammals, when our milk sits it will begin to separate. Fat will collect at the top of the milk and you'll see what looks almost like a plug. The liquid below will still contain fat, just at a lower concentration. Storage methods, pumping/feeding frequency, time stored, and other factors affect how thick the layer appears, so don't panic if you're only seeing a thin layer versus a stopper of fat.

Did you know: fat content from feeding to feeding varies? You could have higher fat content at the beginning of one feeding than you did at the end of another. This allows for the average fat content to remain fairly stable through a 24 hour period and will mean that the fat collecting in your pumped milk varies!

PS: Calories gain weight, not fat alone, so while it's a vital nutrient it's almost undoubtedly not low fat milk causing poor weight gain.

02/21/2026

Join us for our next virtual breastfeeding class! 💜

https://hoosierbf.intakeq.com/booking?serviceId=2718e667-c6d8-4220-9b61-c66dc5f8fa66

02/20/2026

Get to know your IBCLC! This is Kelleen 💜

02/19/2026

If you can’t see how much milk a baby eats when they breastfeed, then how can you tell they’re getting enough?

While meeting developmental milestones is a component to consider, it’s important to note that this isn’t a good early indicator of whether a baby is getting enough milk in most cases - developmental delays due to insufficient milk intake won’t show up right away.

Weighted feedings are a decent tool for looking at milk transfer, but it’s just a snapshot of one feeding of the day and can’t stand alone to say your baby’s intake is in a good range. For example, a baby might transfer 4 ounces during the weighted feed but only 1-2 during typical feedings, or vice versa. Without more information, it could look like the baby is getting more than enough or far too little!

So then what information can we actually count on? Wet diapers, stools, and weight gain. These are the biggest indicators that your baby is getting plenty of milk!

02/17/2026

Let’s be honest… there is nothing discreet about hands free pumps. You might as well just use your wall pump, be done pumping in half the time and remove more milk while you’re at it.

02/16/2026

Get to know your IBCLC! This is Rachel 💜

02/14/2026

We hate to see parents spending hundreds of dollars, putting their baby through the procedure, and not seeing the results they expected afterwards. Nothing changes and you end up looking at a revision or just accepting your baby isn’t meant to feed easily. When you look at it this way, it’s no wonder that some providers think it’s just a fad or money grab.

So how do we prevent this from happening? Truly prepare yourself and your baby! ⤵️

1. See an IBCLC skilled in supporting optimal oral function and feeding - you want someone who can help not only your baby, but you. It’s easy to think it’s just the baby, but parents compensate too.

2. See a bodyworker who is skilled in promoting normal movement and range of motion in the body, and understands how ties limit these as well as how these can impact healing.

3. Ask why your providers are making certain recommendations. If you know why something is important, you’re more likely to be able implement it.

4. Wait for a referral to release. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask if now is the right time, but it does mean your providers should recognize your baby is or isn’t in a good spot to release AND should be able to tell you why.

5. Understand what you’re having released, post-op wound care, pain management, and the general post-release timeline BEFORE you have the release done. Your IBCLC and bodyworker should be preemptively discussing this with you.

6. Follow through on follow-up care after the release. Don’t drop everything because the procedure is over. You’re only halfway there!

Looks like a lot, and it kind of is. Sometimes it’s not attainable because a family doesn’t have the means or access to the care, so of course there will always be situations where “best” just isn’t on the table. You deserve to make an informed choice. We’re talking about your baby’s anatomy and ability to function and development optimally, so of course it’s not just a quick fix and no one should be leading you to believe otherwise!

02/13/2026

So you’ve been told your baby has a tongue tie… Think you’ll just get it released and all their issues will magically disappear? 🫠

Picture it: your baby is struggling to eat, barely hanging on to their growth curve, maybe even starting to refuse to eat. Supply is going down, stress is going up. Or maybe your baby is the one that has been coasting on an oversupply and has never had any practice with actively feeding, doesn’t know how to manage milk flow when they do have suction, and is always spitting up from gulping down their milk. Then they have a surgical procedure (one that may not even be correctly done!) and they’re in pain, and you’re both feeling more frantic and stressed.

Does that seem like a good setup for improving feeding?
Sorry to tell you...it’s probably not going to be magic. We can’t expect the best outcome when we start off with a baby and family that just is not really ready for surgery. Check back tomorrow as we talk more about what needs to happen!

Address

Michigan City, IN

Telephone

(219) 229-9330

Website

http://www.hoosierbreastfriend.com/

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